DPR Office Is Living Lab for Sustainable Business

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — DPR Construction has recently been awarded official certification of its new San Francisco Bay Area Regional Office as a Net-Zero Energy Building by the International Living Future Institute through its Living Building Challenge program. Producing more energy than it consumes, DPR’s San Francisco, California office is the first commercial office in San Francisco to achieve NZEB certification to date. By being both the owner and contractor for the renovation project, DPR was able to push the limits on its sustainability goals for the 24,010-square-foot building and create a true living lab of sustainable business practices for the city.

The modern workplace is located along San Francisco’s Embarcadero on Front Street. In eight months, DPR, design firm FME Architecture + Design, consulting firm Integral Group and 58 other essential partners researched, designed, permitted and built a highly efficient, modern workplace with a number of innovative sustainability features including:

• Three hundred and forty-three SunPower 345-watt photovoltaic panels to produce a 118kW renewable energy system and provide power throughout the office
• Complete structural renovation and roof replacement to support the PV system
• Rooftop solar thermal water heating system
• Daylighting system
• Solar-powered, automated operable skylights over the atrium
• Large atrium skylights retrofitted to control heat gain and diffuse natural light
• Fans to efficiently promote air flow within the office
• Living walls, in addition to a living wine bar – live plants growing beneath the glass bar top
• Reclaimed redwood and Douglas Fir from piles salvaged from the San Francisco Transbay Transit Center Project
• Ultra-low flow and flush plumbing fixtures
• Command Wall Touch technology incorporated BMS System
• First deployed LEED Dynamic Plaque assisting with tracking building performance

As a one-of-a-kind building that is uniquely San Francisco, the office is inspired by like-minded clients that share a commitment to the environment, community and employees. The office serves as an event space where organizations can host events and learn about the most intelligent energy-efficient technologies available. This is DPR’s third office to serve as a living lab for sustainability – the Phoenix, Arizona office achieved net-zero energy certification in 2013 and the San Diego, California office received certification in 2014.